Friday, August 29, 2008

As we continue to reflect on the attributes necessary to cultivate a healthy work environment, I was reminded of the vital role loyalty plays in mission success. Loyalty can be defined as faithfulness or devotion to a person or cause. It can determine our success or failure as an organization. This faithfulness or devotion is often the difference between going the extra mile and giving up.

I was having a conversation with Mrs. Pat Sheppard, who serves as the secretary for our vice wing commander, and I noticed it was late.

Yet she insisted on not leaving her post until the tasks of the day were done.

I asked what drives her, and her response was that she is committed to our wing and its mission. I then realized: loyalty is rooted in our personal values and it connects to those things around it similar in vision.

Our core values and Airman’s Creed remind us that the Air Force will do all it can to take care of us and our families. Each one of us must ask ourselves if we are doing the same thing. If we exercise integrity, service and excellence then those around us will prosper, because we are all demonstrating loyalty to our organization. I can promise you your leadership cares and is serious about doing all it can to provide the best environment possible for you and your family.

Loyalty runs up and down the organizational hierarchy; so please continue to let us know how we can assist you in any way possible. Even as we transition from one wing to two, I can assure you all we see is Team Little Rock, because we are all family. Combat Airlift!

It’s good to be back at Team Little Rock! Last Friday was a big day: you completed the ROCKEX, and I returned home from CAPSTONE. I’ve talked with Col. Vlahos, our vice wing commander, and Chief Brinkley, our command chief, and to no surprise, they emphasized each one of you performed well and gathered many lessons learned in the process; they couldn’t have been more impressed. It makes me proud to be able to come home to the same amazing – if not better – Team Little Rock Airmen and incredible mission performance I left behind seven weeks ago. You truly are the heart and soul of “The Rock!”

CAPSTONE was a great opportunity to observe from a bird’s-eye-view the current status and future of our great joint military team. The course is designed to educate new general officers from all services to plan and employ our forces in joint and combined operations.

We talked about everything from national security to interoperability, among other key allied nation issues. I also had the opportunity to see firsthand the brainchild and bed-down process/status of what will soon be USAFRICOM … U.S. Africa Command, scheduled to become an independent unified command by Oct. 1. I’m excited to bring this knowledge back to “The Rock” and implement it into our day-to-day operations and overall C-130 mission; C-130s play a huge role in the current fight against terrorism!

For those that aren’t already aware, the AMC Site Activation Task Force team was here this past week conducting a site survey for the host-base transfer.

Our projected switch from Air Education and Training Command to Air Mobility Command is coming up fast; let’s ensure we’re 100 percent ready and that the transfer is transparent.

The AMC SATAF team will assist us in streamlining our transition and ensure we have everything we need to successfully transfer the lead reins.

The deployment tempo may change, but no matter what command claims us, our missions will remain training and deploying world class combat airlifters and taking care of our Airmen and family members on the home front; the sacrifices our family members make in order to ensure we are prepared for any call to duty truly make our mission possible.

Also coming around the corner quickly is this year’s air show October 18 and 19!

Everything is coming together well, and our air show/open house team and community partners are working hard to make this show and demonstration of the U.S. military’s awe-inspiring capabilities the best yet!

The Navy’s Blue Angels demonstration team, the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team, the Shockwave jet truck, the Virtual Army Experience, F-22s, among a host of other performers and events will all be on display, but I’m personally thrilled to see

“The Rock’s” own C-130s in an amazing capabilities exercise, including paratroopers.

While aerial maneuvers and driving over 300 mph are certainly impressive, the ability to drop “beans and bullets” within a tiny radius in remote locations to our deployed comrades is equally impressive, and also very important! Additionally, a hearty “congratulations” to our senior NCO inductees and staff sergeant-selects! This is a monumental step in your careers! Take this time to learn from those who have “been there” as you transition into the future leaders of our Air Force. We’re all proud of you!

Thank you all for welcoming new members of our leadership team to our growing family.

Col. Hyde, Col. Johnson and Col. Hair are all newly arrived on station and freshly minted Team Little Rock Combat Airlifters. Please allow me to add my “Welcome to the Team,” gentlemen!

Again, I want to thank each and every one of you for your hard work last week during the ROCKEX, as well over the duration of my TDY.

I am continually amazed by the caliber of people I have the honor of serving with; thank you for giving me such a happy homecoming! Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend.

Have you ever sat and thought about how important each of your family members are?

If something were to happen to you or one of your immediate family members, would you or your family be ready to handle the added stress?

Would you be able to maintain a normal household environment? Tragically, members of this base have had to deal with these very issues.

Many of you have seen it firsthand and have provided support and help where you could.

I must admit that I never gave it much thought until my own family was notified on July 18 that our 20-year-old daughter was involved in a serious automobile accident and sustained severe head injuries. When we arrived at the hospital, we were told that she had little hope of surviving. Thankfully, she is a fighter and is still hanging in there for us. I can tell you the added stress on our immediate family is enormous.

I enlisted in the Air Force over 28 years ago and have seen tragic events happen to other families. We were always there to help those families in any way we could. Never for a moment did we consider that we could be faced with a tragedy of our own.

When this tragic event occurred, our Air Force family immediately jumped into action. Base leadership, chaplain’s office and the military personnel element were all working behind the scenes as soon as my wife and I were notified of the accident.

The support our military family provided has truly been a blessing for us. As our daughter begins her long road to recovery, we know our military family is behind us and will assist in any way possible.

My point is this: after reading this article, call or go home and take a good look at your family.

Be thankful for what you have, for a day may come that will change your life forever.

Life as you know it could change in the blink of an eye. You’re not only in the Air Force … you’re a part of our Air Force family.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The American Cancer Society’s Mid-South Division recently selected Staff Sgt. Crystal Gibson of the 314th Logistics Readiness Squadron aircraft services shift supervisor at Little Rock AFB, to be a Hero of Hope. She is one of only 25 cancer survivors from six states to be recognized.

The Heroes of Hope program is in its first year. Honorees will serve as spokespeople for the American Cancer Society in their communities. Those selected have triumphed over cancer, made significant volunteer contributions to the American Cancer Society and made an impact in the lives of others.

“The Heroes of Hope award provides a highly visible symbol of personal victory over the disease, as well as encourages support and participation in the programs of the Society,” says Trisha Humphrey, an American Cancer Society volunteer who helped organize the group. The Heroes of Hope represent the courageous struggle of all cancer patients as they deal with the physical and emotional aspects of their experience.

In 2007, Sergeant Gibson was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was only 30 years old. She underwent multiple surgeries and four months of chemotherapy. But Sergeant Gibson is a fighter. After all, she’s been an Airman with the U.S. Air Force for over eight years.

“I knew what to expect,” said Sergeant Gibson. “I knew I wasn’t going to die. I knew of other survivors through Relay For Life. I was able to network with them and learn about what they went through.”

Sergeant Gibson had been volunteering for Relay For Life in Jacksonville since she moved to Arkansas in 2006. Through the friendships she formed at the relay, she had a ready-made support system to help her cope with cancer. This year, she was the Honorary Survivor for the event. “I didn’t know why I was drawn to Relay For Life but, now, I know that I was brought to it for a reason,” said Sergeant Gibson.

Sergeant Gibson and the other Heroes of Hope will be officially recognized at the American Cancer Society’s upcoming Relay For Life Leadership Summit in November.

The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. For cancer information 24-hours-a-day, call 800-227-2345 or log onto www.cancer.org.

THE DROP ZONE CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT will take ads by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 982-9421, or you may mail your ad to 404 Graham Rd., Jacksonville, Ark. 72078. You may also email them to dropzoneclassifieds@arkansasleader.com Deadline to advertise in Friday issue is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

THRIFT SHOP open to the public. MWF, 10 am to 2 pm, first Saturday monthly. Great bargains. All revenues used to support mission. Volunteers and donations welcome. Jacksonville Care Channel, 201 Elm, 982-4647.

Besides serving together at Little Rock Air Force Base, the Andersons have crossed paths throughout their careers. The twins were first stationed together at Dyess AFB, Texas, from 1989 to 1993, where they were deployed together in Operation Desert Storm. Later, they were both stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from 1999 to 2000. They were then assigned, to Little Rock AFB, with Lt. Col. Timothy Anderson arriving in 2003, and Lt. Col. Thomas Anderson arriving in 2005.

“Being stationed together, it was nice knowing family was close by in case you needed support,” said Lt. Col. Timothy Anderson, former C-130 navigator. At one point the Anderson family had seven active-duty service members. With the retirement of the twins, the only current active-duty member is Col. David Anderson.

Though never feeling pressured by their father, James Anderson, the twins said their desire to honor his legacy played a large factor in their decision to join the Air Force together.

“Our dad instilled a sense of service when we were growing up, and we just followed his example,” said Lt. Col. Timothy Anderson. Not only did the twins join to honor their family legacy; they also felt a strong desire to serve their country.“It seemed like a career that would provide a lot of pride in service. Then the opportunity to fly was just icing on the cake,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Anderson. Though beneficial for the twins, being stationed together caused confusion for others because of their similar appearance. The brothers recall one humorous experience while they were stationed together at Dyess AFB.“We were there for four years together; about three years into that assignment, the [hairstylist] at the barber shop finally realized there were two of us,” said Lt. Col. Timothy Anderson. “The only way she figured it out was because Tommy got his hair cut before lunch, and I got my hair cut after lunch one day.”

“She said she had never seen anyone’s hair grow so fast that he needed a hair cut every week,” joked Lt. Col. Thomas Anderson, a former C-130 pilot.

After 20 years of military service together, the twin brothers will take their experiences they have encountered throughout the years into new chapters of their lives. Lt. Col. Timothy Anderson plans on using his military experience to help teach a new generation of C-130 airlifters, and Lt. Col. Thomas Anderson will pursue a position in an aviation or operations-related career field.

“The military provides you an opportunity; it’s up to the individual to want and realize it,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Anderson. “You should serve to your best capacity based on what your motivations are for serving, whether it’s pride of country or pride of service. I just feel very thankful I had an opportunity to serve for 20 years, because with what the Air Force provided me, you just can’t put a price tag on as far as education, camaraderie and some of the great people you meet along the way.”

The twins spent the last three years stationed here together where they closed out 20 years of dedicated service to begin new chapters.

Harris Road gate and Vandenberg Gate will have construction work taking place today. There will be lane closures and traffic will be rerouted.

RETIREE APPRECIATION DAY

Little Rock Air Force Base will host a Retiree Appreciation Day from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Conference Center. The event will feature representatives from the Military Personnel Element, 314th Medical Group, Tricare, Veterans Affairs and the legal office.

The event is open to anyone who has access to the base. For more information, contact the Retiree Activities Office at 987-6095.

POW/MIA DAY SEPT. 19

POW/MIA Recognition Day activities at Little Rock AFB will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 19 at Hangar 1080. Please be in your seats by 11:15 a.m. for the arrival of the official party.

There will be a multi-media presentation recognizing the extraordinary efforts and heroism of seven Arkansas residents who are former POWs.

This is your opportunity to honor seven of our military’s finest and show that, “We will not forget.”

The buffet style lunch features sliced roast beef, chicken breasts, a variety of side dishes and will only cost $10.

Local organizations have donated money to make this a truly memorable event. RSVP to your First Sergeant before Monday for registration or call Capt. Sean Gagnon at 987-5821 or Capt. Alicia Damon at 987-3653 if you need additional information.

DAPS OPEN HOUSE TUESDAY

Defense Automated Printing Service is having a open house from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday at Bldg. 460 on the corner of 3rd and D Street. For more information, call 987-6258.

CONTRACTING TAKING RESUMES

The 314th Contracting Squadron is taking resumees for a temporary emergency hire for a contracting specialist and a purchasing agent. Positions must be filled as soon as possible.

For requirements or to apply, go to www.littlerock.af.mil/units/ and look under the 314th Contracting Squadron for advertising actions for a link to the full details on both jobs. For more information, call 987-3836.

BASS TOURNAMENT SLATED

Wounded Warrior Project Team Bass Tournament is set for Sept. 21 at Murray Park in Little Rock. Registration and live well checks begin at 5 a.m. at the ramp.

Launch at safelight and weigh-in will be at 3 p.m.

There will be $1,000 first prize based on 20 boats). Entry fee is $100 per boat with $10 optional big bass pot. There is a 70 percent payback with all proceeds going to the WWP.

Pre-registration can be made at Fish-N-Stuff in Sherwood. The event is sponsored by the Little Rock AFB Bass Club.

All Federal NAF Employees are required by Public Law 104-134 to have salary payments made by electronic funds transfer/direct deposit.

CUSTOMER SERVICE FORUM SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

The 314th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s Customer Service Office is holding a supply forum at 9 a.m., Tuesday. This forum will address various supply and logistics issues. The meeting will be held in Bldg. 450, upstairs in the procedures conference room. All supply and logistics representatives are welcome to attend. Contact the 314th LRS Customer Service Office at 987-6201 or 987-7837 to reserve a seat.

By Lt. Col. John Vaughn314th Operational Support Squadron director of operations

A few years ago, a small book titled “Who Moved My Cheese?” made its way through the business community. It’s a rather simple book…easy to read, fairly short and even humorous at times. But for all its simplicity, that book has had a more meaningful and lasting impact on the way I deal with change than anything else in my life.

The book centers around four main characters: Sniff and Scurry, two mice, and Hem and Haw, two little people “the size of mice.” Each day, our characters must put on their running shoes and travel through a maze in order to find cheese. This cheese not only feeds them but also serves as their personal measure of success. The mice, having simple brains, always keep their running shoes ready, because they never know when they’ll need to put them on again and search for new cheese. But Hem and Haw, as people often do, grow complacent and take the cheese for granted. Eventually, they lose track of their running shoes altogether.

As the title would suggest, one day someone moves the cheese. Ever-prepared Sniff and Scurry sniff around a little bit and decide the cheese has moved. They quickly put on their running shoes and head back into the maze to find new cheese. Unfortunately, Hem and Haw do not deal with the change so well. Their response, typical of all our responses when dealing with change, runs the gamut from fear and anger to frustration and worry. I’ll let you read the book for yourself to see how the story ends…but the ending does involve some new cheese.

What made this book so meaningful to me was that I saw myself in it. I saw my resistance to change in the way Hem and Haw dealt with their lack of cheese. Change is inevitable for all of us. We must learn to deal with it constructively, or risk getting left behind.

The Air Force has certainly gone through its fair share of change over the last few years: more deployments, fewer people, more with less, unmanned aircraft, Airman Battle Uniforms, another new service dress, combining Air Force enlisted career fields, 365-day TDYs, the potential obsolescence of manned fighter aircraft, Cyber Command, Africa Command, permanent change of station budget shortfalls, selective early retirement boards, reduction-in-force, voluntary separation pay and our very own 19th Airlift Wing.

Yet with all these changes, Air Force men and women get up each day and “search for new cheese.” We look for the opportunities in the changes because we have to. Our nation depends on us. Our nation depends on you. Let me take this opportunity to offer you a simple, but very heartfelt, “thanks.” You don’t hear it enough, and you need to know that your leadership is grateful for your service.

Whether you stay in the military or leave for “greener pastures” elsewhere, I can assure you change will always be a part of your life. You must learn to deal with it or risk getting left behind. With that, I’ll offer this final piece of advice: keep your running shoes ready.

In the profession of arms, we are called to build up what is broken down. We are charged with continually improving our skills to deploy the most lethal and prepared force the world has ever seen. With a focus on constant improvement, we have to be careful to not only see the things that need fixing; around us there are many things that are happening smoothly and are otherwise going great.

When we drive onto the base, we are reminded of the unit that committed the last criminal act of drinking and driving. I have sat in meetings about those who choose to drink underage or use illegal drugs. Also I’ve heard and met those who have departed from our core values by treating others unfairly or taking something not belonging to them. Yet, in actuality, these people and their actions reflect less than one percent of our team.

Any organization would love to have a 99 percent success rate, and we have that here at Team Little Rock with our people. You see, the overwhelming majority of Team Little Rock “gets it.”

To you I want to say “thanks” for your dedicated focus and true professionalism. I encourage you to do the same thing to those around you who have truly accepted the mantle of responsibility and wield it wisely and respectfully.

We owe it to them to put our energy and time on those who have demonstrated by attitudes and actions they are on board. I understand the 80/20 rule where you place 80 percent of your time on the 20 percent of your personnel who won’t conform. Here at Team Little Rock, I challenge you to reverse that and focus on the ones who are doing great things.

We can provide opportunities to the others to correct their course, but if not, then we thank them for their service and wish them well in their future endeavors outside of the Air Force. The bottom line is that we have a tremendous team here at Little Rock, and I personally thank you all for what you do for our nation.

Greetings, all! Tonight, Brig. Gen. Schatz, 314th Airlift Wing commander, returns from his temporary duty to CAPSTONE. First, let me say that it has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as your wing commander for the past seven weeks.

We’ve accomplished a lot, moved priorities forward, met challenges head-on, and engaged with our surrounding communities, while continuing to train and deploy the world’s best C-130 and C-21 Combat Airlifters in a safe and professional manner.

I must also add we’ve had a lot of fun while doing all this. Here is a snapshot of a few things I observed while sitting in the wing commander’s chair: Airmen who are proud of their work area, Airmen who care for each other and for their families, Airmen more fit than I remember when I entered the Air Force and Airmen making a difference. For this, I thank all of you. I also spent a lot of time teamed up with our wing command chief. I can tell you, Chief Brinkley has a lot of energy and the best interests of all our Airmen at heart—he kept me running!

We just completed a highly successful ROCKEX week. We accomplished two major objectives: preparing for the worst while simulating a major accident response and exercising the wartime deployment of the 463rd Airlift Group. Everyone on base contributed to the accomplishment of these two objectives. Many people worked through the night supporting the simulated search and recovery effort. I encourage all of you to reflect on the lessons and experiences from this past week and answer these questions: “What did I learn? How did my team perform? What can my shop do to better ensure we are ready to execute such missions if called upon anytime during the day or night?”

For some of you, the ROCKEX will continue on today and throughout the weekend as we launch aircraft. Supervisors need to be aware of Airmen who worked outside of their normal shift to ensure proper rest and recovery time. Safety is always paramount in all we do—first-level supervisors, your leadership is what makes a difference here … so “rock on” and “giddy-up!” Combat Airlift!

Friday, August 15, 2008

THE DROP ZONE CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT will take ads by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 982-9421, or you may mail your ad to 404 Graham Rd., Jacksonville, AR 72078. You may also email them to dropzoneclassifieds@arkansasleader.com Deadline to advertise in Friday issue is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

THRIFT SHOP open to the public. MWF, 10 am to 2 pm, first Saturday monthly. Great bargains. All revenues used to support mission. Volunteers and donations welcome. Jacksonville Care Channel, 201 Elm, 982-4647.

Classes offered for Community College of the Air Force degree include: speech, English, humanities, social science and math. The classes start soon for Airmen wanting to finish their CCAF degree. Courses to qualify for commissioning as well as pre-engineering, pre-nursing, pre-medical, pre-dental and pre-teaching plus bachelor’s degree courses are also available. For details, call Arkansas State University-Beebe on base at 987-8252 or Park University at 987-8894.

Little Rock Spouses’ Club seeks members

The Little Rock Spouses’ Club is on the hunt for spouses of active duty, Guard, Reserve, retiree and DoD employees to attend its “Sign Up Safari” open house 6:30 p.m., Thursday, at Hangar 1080. Light hors d’oeuvres and dessert will be served at this free event. The 2008 to 2009 LRSC calendar will be presented. New and returning members may join and sign up to participate in the many available special activities and program committees. There will be games and door prizes. The best safari outfit will be chosen. Visit www.littlerockspouses.com or contact Amanda Cook at 983-0185 by 5 p.m., Monday. The Children’s Playgroup will not be available for this event.

Voter registration week

The base’s voting office sponsors a voter registration week Sept. 2 to 5. Military members and their voting-age family members can register 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations:

• Base Exchange

• Commissary

• Fitness Center

• Base dining facility

No matter what state or territory a military member calls home, volunteers will be on hand to assist with the registration process.

Scrapbooking and movie set for Saturday

The Airman and Family Readiness Center will be hosting a scrapbooking and movie event 2 to 3:30 p.m., tomorrow, Bldg. 668. All spouses and family members of deployed members are invited to attend. There will be light refreshments and a movie with popcorn for the children. The family members will be able to create a shoebox memory album to send to the deployed member. Shannon Shadman will be presenting the techniques of scrapbooking. Bring pictures and special memorabilia to be placed in your book; the materials for the book will be provided. For more information and to sign up, call 987-6801.

Air Force Sergeants looks for new members

The Air Force Sergeants’ Association Auxiliary is looking for new members. We are an established international organization, trying to get our local chapter up and running here on Little Rock Air Force Base. All spouses are welcome, regardless of military members’ rank. Call Stephanie Theisinger for more information at 815-228-9196. It is a non-profit organization banding together to aid, assist and promote all matters pertaining to welfare, social and patriotic work, for the benefit of military families.

Youth hunter education course offered on base

The 189th Airlift Wing’s Youth Group sponsors a youth hunter education class during the September unit training assembly weekend. The class is open to all military youth ages 10 and over. The class is Sept. 13 to 14 in the 189th Airlift Wing Operations Group auditorium, Bldg. 118. Class times are Sept. 13, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with an hour break for lunch, and Sept. 14, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission instructors will teach the course. The training is structured to acquaint children with the many wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities and recreational shooting sports available to them. Any hunter in the state of Arkansas born after 1968 must carry a valid hunter education card. A card is required of youth applicants for permit hunts. Attendees will receive their hunter education card. Parents are urged to register their children by Aug. 30. For more information or to register, call Staff Sgt. J.D. Crawford at 987-1091.

New ‘Six Sigma’ program on base

Southern Illinois University is accepting civilian and military enrollments in the new “Six Sigma” green belt I, Green Belt II and Black Belt courses. Six Sigma is a new curriculum in the corporate world. Little Rock AFB personnel no longer need to search for these courses online. SIU offers the three courses in a two weekend-per-month format starting Aug. 23 to 24. Classes are expected to fill up this week. Contact SIU immediately at the Education Center or call 987-8258.

New DoD travel card

DoD government travel cards are switching from Bank of America to Citibank and will be ready for use starting Nov. 30. Airmen and civilians must verify receipt of their new card as soon as possible after it is received. All travel from now until Nov. 29 must be charged to the current Bank of America travel card. For more information, contact a unit government travel card representative. Cardholders can also visit www.defensetravel.dod.mil, www.gsa.gov/smartpay, or e-mail questions to dtmotc@dtmo.pentagon.mil.

Graduate classes start

Graduate classes start Monday. The University of Arkansas-Fayetteville’s Master of Science in Operations Management classes start Monday, and Webster University’s classes for the remaining graduate degrees start next week. For registration details, call WU at 987-8257 and UA-F at 987-8256.

The cutoff date to submit your transcript for the fall 2008 CCAF graduation is Aug. 29. All missing college transcripts need to reach CCAF at Maxwell AFB, Ala., no later than Aug. 29. Contact the Education Center at 987-3417 for assistance.

DIFM Training

The 314th Logistic Readiness Squadron will be hosting a monthly Block 2B Due-In-From-Maintenance training class, in Bldg. 450, upstairs conference room every third Wednesday starting in August. Training begins at 9 a.m. The class is open to all base personnel who require training in the DIFM process. For more information, call Tech. Sgt. Richard Yarberry 987-8240 or 987-2738.

Staff Sergeant promotion party

The Little Rock Rising Six will be hosting a promotion party 3 p.m., Aug. 22 in the ballroom of Hangar 1080. Come congratulate our newest staff sergeant selects.

Bowling Tournament

The David D. Terry Jr. Chapter of the Air Force Association will hold a bowling tournament to raise money for the Timothy W. Kehler scholarship. It is a $1,000 scholarship given to a graduating high school senior in the central Arkansas area who is planning to pursue a degree in any aerospace career field. The scholarship recipient can enter a four-year, two-year or technical school for consideration. The tournament is today at the base bowling center. Three games will be played, and cash prizes will be offered after each game set by the number of participants. For more information, call John Heffernan at 658-4521 or Jerry Reichenbach at 457-5276.

The Little Rock Air Force Base Retiree Activities Office serves as the interface between the active and retired communities. It is an official Air Force staffed by volunteers. All military retirees regardless of service, surviving spouses of retired and active-duty personnel and all military members about to retire are served by the RAO.

John Heffernan, Little Rock AFB RAO director — who has also provided 96 flags for active-duty retiree ceremonies — says, “It is an honor to be able to serve our active-duty [personnel who are retiring].”

Mr. Heffernan and approximately 62 volunteers working all across Little Rock AFB offer a wide range of assistance to retirees including: guidance for military members about to retire; benefits for retirees; as well as furnishing needed volunteers at multiple locations around Little Rock AFB.

Retirement activities office volunteers totaled 13,537.50 hours in 2007. Many active and retired military members from all branches of service are grateful for the help the RAO provides.

The RAO helps out around base, assisting at the Consolidated Support Center by getting the word out when the computer systems may be down or when the wait time to receive an identification card may be longer than expected. Volunteers also ensure to tell retirees before they make the trip to the base from wherever they are coming from what paperwork is mandatory to have, since many travel hundreds of miles to use the facilities at Little Rock AFB.

“They go out of their way for us; their help is tremendous,” said Tech. Sgt. Janet Green, 314th Mission Support Squadron Customer Service NCO in charge.

Mr. Heffernan and the RAO volunteers have a deep-rooted respect for the privileges retired military personnel and their families are granted but stress these are privileges rather than a right.

“At times, I have to send out what I affectionately refer to as ‘love notes’ to remind some of our retirees about the policies and rules,” mentioned Mr. Heffernan.

The RAO also provides a monthly activity newsletter posted on the base Web site that has more detailed information concerning retiree benefits and the wide range of services they can provide.

RAO volunteers also provide assistance and education through the Survivor Benefit Plan. Getting the word out about the new law effective Oct. 1, which states participants who reach 70 years of age and have made over 30 years will no longer have to pay premiums for continued SBP coverage and will be placed in paid-up SBP status.

There is also a service provided on base that allows retirees who are unable to shop at the commissary or base exchange due to a handicap to receive assistance.

The retiree must have a letter from their doctor stating that they legitimately need assistance; the person assisting also must be named on the letter. After stopping by the RAO, you will receive a card which is good for a year.

The driver on the letter must have current automobile insurance, vehicle registration and a valid driver’s license. Additionally, the person shopping for the retiree must carry his ID card.

“It’s a nice feeling to know people like my father who made a career in the military can come in and have these services provided,” said Damon Poole II, son of World War II veteran retired Air Force Master Sgt. Damon Poole.

For more information, stop by the Retiree Activities Office Bldg. 1255 or call 987-6095 or 987-5254.

After recently taking command, I found myself preparing for my initial commander’s call to outline my expectations for the squadron. While collecting my thoughts, one general theme continued to come to mind: integrity first.

The Air Force has recently placed a strong focus on the criticality of integrity. If an organization has integrity, that organization is courageous in its actions, responsible for its mission, holds itself accountable and supports an honest and truthful atmosphere. What’s not to like about all these qualities and values? Integrity is something that as military professionals we must have and hold true or its absence can shake us to our core. Integrity is defined as a steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code, or in layman’s terms, as simple as a person’s word or doing the right thing.

In the military, we put a lot of faith and trust that the warriors in our midst live with integrity. This is evident in the many oaths and creeds that we recite, institutionalize and embody. Without integrity, these oaths and creeds are just words. Without integrity, the act of raising our right hand and saying, “I solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States” is nothing more than a nice ceremony. With integrity, those same words are the ones we speak so that those we serve with, rest assured they have Wingmen they can trust when times get tough. With integrity, the words from the Airmen’s Creed “I am an American Airmen, I will not falter, and I will not fail” tell the people of this great nation they can trust we are on watch and will continue to carry the flag of freedom wherever our nation calls.

So, the next time we stand up and recite the Oath of Enlistment/Office or Airmen’s Creed, think about what you are saying…and mean what you say. They aren’t mere words; they are much more. The ideals embodied in these words brought those warriors — past and present — through seemingly insurmountable challenges to one of the greatest countries in the world today.

If you don’t think what we do is serious, I would ask you to look around the world and take a hard look at the events that are taking place. Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom are places where Team Little Rock’s involvement has proved essential, not to mention the numerous humanitarian missions our team has supported while providing hope to the hopeless. I ask each of you to reflect on what it truly means to be a part of Team Little Rock and the U.S. Air Force.

Maximizing our training and resources can make the difference between victory and defeat…as well as sustaining life to those who have been otherwise cut off.

It’s why we train and prepare so diligently. Our nation and global coalition partners are counting on us to be the best in the world at what we do. My question to you is: are you being the best for your nation that you can be?

Historically, our airlifters have faced tremendous odds while deploying America’s sons and daughters along with much needed supplies in order to turn the tide of the battles we have faced.

The profession of arms is one which second place is nothing to be proud of. If we cannot continue to be the best air, space and cyberspace force, then everything we have fought to establish as a nation could potentially be in jeopardy.

As the world’s center of excellence for Combat Airlift, we can never forget that our mission is bigger than us. Our Airman’s Creed truly puts the concept of “finishing first” in perspective. We must balance knowledge of mission, self and heritage, and be the best Wingmen and Airmen that we can be.

Being and sustaining the world’s best Air Force is not something you can turn on like a light switch. It is daily dedication; our nation counts on each one of us to make this happen. Second place is not an option. Combat Airlift!

Greetings, all! One of the most important obligations leaders at all levels have is to ensure the health and welfare of our Airmen. Part of this includes knowing where your Airmen live. Supervisors should know whether their Airmen live in the dormitory, base housing or off base.

Do you know where your Airmen live? When is the last time you made a morale check on a dormitory or base house to ensure your Airmen’s air conditioning works? Replacement of our aging dormitories is at the top of our military construction priority list. Until this happens, I can assure you that Brig. Gen. Schatz, 314th Airlift Wing commander, 314th Airlift Wing Command Chief Brinkley and I are constantly looking at what we can do for our dormitories. We are nearing completion on a renovation project on our two oldest dormitories. We spent nearly one million dollars upgrading carpet, ceilings, painting walls and furniture to improve living conditions.

Recently, the command chief has been asking the hard questions about our infrastructure and plumbing which supports the dormitories. We are looking for solutions to increase the number of washers and dryers for our unaccompanied Airmen to use. I can guarantee you we will not stop until we have solved this.

Let’s shift gears now for a base housing update. A little over a week ago, repair work began in earnest to fix all the roofs on base damaged from the storm that hit our base last spring. I know this work is long overdue. We are prioritizing the work, taking care of those residents with the most need first. I would like to thank those who have persevered through this process while funding was secured. Our privatized housing situation continues to be worked and monitored by the highest levels in the Department of Defense and Congress. We all anxiously await the completion of the pending purchase and sale agreement securing a new contractor—this is still on track for the fall. Until then, I can tell you that Tony Lovelette, Little Rock Family Housing Property Manager, and his local crew from American Eagle are doing everything within their power to provide a comfortable and safe living environment for our Airmen. Thanks, Tony. Together, and working as a team, we will continually strive to make improvements in this area.

Finally, thanks to all for your service and leadership. We continue to train and deploy the world’s best C-130 and C-21 Combat Airlifters while making Little Rock Air Force Base the gem of central Arkansas. Combat Airlift!

Monday, August 11, 2008

With school out and gas prices on the rise, traveling is a new adventure in many respects. Don’t miss out on family vacations and fun just because gas is high; check out the following fun things to do here in the Natural State for little-to-no money.

Discover which famous entertainers have Arkansas ties by visiting the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame located in the Pine Bluff Convention Center. The collections on display include everything from guitars to drumsticks owned by the likes of Levon Helm, Al Green, Jimmy Driftwood and Art Porter, Sr., and many more. For more information, call 800-536-7660.

Enjoy a warm welcome, a hot cup of coffee and a relaxing place to learn more about the Natural State. Visit one of the new Arkansas Welcome Centers at Texarkana, Fort Smith/Van Buren, Corning or El Dorado. View exhibits of the local area, check e-mail, make online reservations through www.Arkansas.com.

In the Ozarks, the Buffalo National River with its towering limestone bluffs is America’s first national river. Hiking trails traverse historic farmsteads, quiet stream valleys, waterfalls and wooded mountainsides, and offer bluff-top vistas. For more information, call 870-439-2502.

Free folk musicals and dancing on the Stone County Courthouse Square in Mountain View have been a local tradition since 1963. Professionals and amateurs join together in impromptu band performances every Friday and Saturday night during warmer months. For more information, call 888-679-2859.

Scenic drives, walking paths and historic Bathhouse Row make up the unique Hot Springs National Park set in the city of Hot Springs amid the Ouachita National Forest. Bring your own containers and take home FREE mineral water. For more information, call 800-SPA-CITY.

An authentic reproduction of a water-powered grist mill, The Old Mill, in North Little Rock appears in the opening scene of the classic movie, “Gone with the Wind.” Tour guides available by appointment. For more information, call 758-1424.

Norfork National Fish Hatchery, located at the base of Norfork Dam east of Mountain Home, offers tours of facilities that produce millions of trout for Ozark streams. Children may try their luck at landing a trout from the waters of nearby Dry Run Creek. For more information, call 870-499-5255

Step into the magic of Terra Studios just outside of Fayetteville to find creatures from another world and to watch “Bluebirds of Happiness” being made. For more information, call 800-255-8995

Waterfalls, lakes, mountainsides and meadows at Petit Jean State Park in Morrilton inspired the creation of the Arkansas State Parks system. For more information, call 727-5441.

The last public ferryboat operating in the state, Peel Ferry transports vehicles and passengers across a section of Bull Shoals Lake. For more information, call 870-743-2100.

Nature Centers at Pine Bluff, Jonesboro and Fort Smith showcase the best of nature found in each region. These range from a 20,000-gallon ox-bow lake aquarium among other exhibits at Delta Rivers Nature Center in Pine Bluff; a surround-sound recreation of the evolution that caused Crowley’s Ridge at the Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro; and exhibits depicting the diversity of the Arkansas River Valley at the new Arkansas River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith, built on 170 acres of former Fort Chaffee land next to Wells Lake.

Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs was named among the top four buildings of the 20th century by the American Institute of Architects. The chapel uses 425 large panels of glass to showcase the natural beauty of the Ozarks. Designed by world-renowned Arkansas architect, E. Fay Jones, the non-denominational chapel is open from March through December. For more information, call 479-253-7401.

In Fayetteville, the National Cemetery was established in 1867 to lay to rest the remains of Union soldiers killed in the region. The Confederate Cemetery is located just a few blocks away. For more information, call 479-521-1710 or visit www.fayettevillear.com.

The “Lum ‘N’ Abner” radio program is remembered at the Lum & Abner Jot ‘Em Down Store and Museum in Pine Ridge, where pieces of Lum ‘N’ Abner history preserve an important era in American life. The museum is open March through November. Call in advance for tours. For more information, call 870-326-4442.

Stroll through Eureka Springs, an Ozark Mountain town known for its beautiful Victorian architecture, winding mountainside streets and block after block of one-of-a-kind shops, fine art galleries, and restaurants. For more information, call 479-253-8737.

Hit the trail the two-wheel kind, and explore the beauty of the Ozark National Forest on the 50-mile Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail, located in Mountain View. This newsworthy trail has been designated by the by the International Mountain Biking Association as an “Epic Ride,” a status only 37 trails across the nation currently hold, These rides are on the top of many mountain bikers to ride lists.

The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center in Piggott includes the home and barn studio where Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote portions of “A Farewell to Arms.” Tours conducted weekdays and Saturdays. For more information, call 870-598-3487.

Drive the Boston Mountain Scenic Loop, the only scenic loop in the state. From Fayetteville, take curve-hugging U.S. Hwy. 71 over Mt. Gayler past small gift shops and mountaintop lodging to Alma. From Alma, take Interstate 540 through the rolling hills of a pastoral countryside and a tunnel through a mountain back to Fayetteville.

The Louisiana Purchase added the territory that would become Arkansas to the U.S. Commemorating this historical event is the Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park, located near Brinkley. The main feature of the park is a 950-foot boardwalk into a rare headwater swamp, where sits a marker denoting the initial point for the 1815 survey of purchase lands west of the Mississippi. For more information, call 888-AT-PARKS.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Lake Leatherwood Park in Eureka Springs is a 1,600-acre municipal park with a 100 acre spring fed lake. Located off Ark. 62 at the western edge of town, it is a place of natural serenity. For more information, call 479-253-8624.

Built in 1896, the Pillow-Thompson House in Helena is one of the finest examples of Queen Anne architecture in the South. For more information, call 870-338-8535.

At Devil’s Den State Park hiking and backpacking trails lead to back country areas where you can explore caves, such as the eerie sounding Devil’s Icebox, crevices and bluff overlooks. For more information, call 479-761-3325.

Exhibits at the Arkansas State University Museum in Jonesboro include Native American history, a walk-through pioneer “town,” military items, natural history displays, a priceless glass collection, geology, mastodon and other prehistoric fossils, plus traveling exhibits. For more information, call 870-972-2074.

Cradled by the bluffs of the War Eagle River in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, Withrow Springs State Park near Huntsville is a peaceful setting for exploring nature. For more information, call 479-559-2593.

At the Delta Cultural Center in Helena a restored depot and storefront features gospel and blues music heritage, Civil War history and the settlement of the Delta. For more information, call 800-358-0972.

Learn about Arkansas’s oil and brine industries and the 1920s oil boom at the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover. The museum’s Oil Field Park has genuine derricks and oilfield equipment. For more information, call 870-725-2877

The Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area extends for 12 miles along the Cossatot River. The wild and scenic river forms Cossatot Falls, a rugged and rocky canyon that challenges the most experienced canoeist and kayakers. South of Mena. For more information, call 682-7777

The Ouachita National Recreation Trail is an east-west corridor extending from Pinnacle Mountain State Park near Little Rock to Talimena State Park near Talihina, Okla. This mountain trail offers hikers a wide range of opportunities from scenic vistas and upland hardwood and pine forests to clear streams, high ridges and wide valleys.

Set in the oldest surviving state capitol west of the Mississippi River, the Old State House Museum in Little Rock has been designated a National Historic Landmark, though it is probably best known throughout the country as the scene of President Clinton’s 1992 and 1996 election-night celebrations.

For grand vistas, travel to the highest point in Arkansas 2,753 feet at Mount Magazine State Park, complete with a new lodge, cabins, conference center and visitors center. For more information, call 479-963-8502

Pose with one foot in Texas and the other in Arkansas at Photographer’s Island on State Line Avenue in Texarkana.

On the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, the Tommy Boyer Hall of Champions Museum in Bud Walton Arena and the Jerry Jones/Jim Lindsey Hall of Champions Museum in the Frank Broyles Center display over a century of Arkansas sports memories. For more information, call 479-575-2000.

The 50 mile Wolf Pen Gap ATV trail near Mena is the first formal trail system in the Ouachita National Forest specifically for four-wheelers and dirt bikes. For more information, call 394-2382

See and feel the history of this important civil rights landmark, Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, and learn about the “Little Rock Nine.” A life-size monument to the Little Rock Nine can be found on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol. For more information, call 374-1957

Go for a hike atop Arkansas’s second-highest peak at Queen Wilhelmina State Park, a cloud-capped hideaway reigning above the Ouachita Mountains. For more information, call 394-2863

Little Rock Campaign Driving Tour outlines the 1863 advance by Union forces who seized the state capital and includes detailed exhibit panels at roadside pullouts that are accessible from Interstate 40 between Little Rock and Lonoke. For more information, call 370-3290.

Miss Laura’s Visitor Center is a restored turn-of-the-century brothel that is now Fort Smith’s visitors center. For more information, call 800-637-1477

Enjoy a self-guided driving tour or walk the one-mile Battlefield Trail at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Prairie Grove. For more information, call 479-846-2990

Established in 1878 as a Benedictine Monastery, Subiaco Abbey now serves as a college preparatory school for boys. Pick up a brochure on-site for a self-guided walking tour to view the dramatic stone architecture and manicured grounds. Scenic Ark. 22; For more information, call 479-934-1000

A rare example of a suspension bridge in Arkansas, Beaver Bridge was built in 1943 and is still in use today. Ark. 187, east of Beaver.

Take a driving or walking tour of the Quapaw Quarter Historic District, a historic downtown area with restored antebellum and Victorian structures including a park named for General Douglas MacArthur, who was born in Little Rock, and the Villa Mare, featured in the opening of “Designing Women.” For more information, call 371-0075

The twin towers of Old Main, completed in 1875, preside over the scenic campus of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Former President Bill Clinton once taught law on this campus. (479) 575-2000

The entire downtown of Calico Rock Historic District is on the National Historic register and has served as a movie set. See several antique shops and restaurants. (870) 297-4129

Overlooking the Arkansas River Valley, 14 miles of trails encircle Mount Nebo, the state park seven miles west of Dardanelle on Ark. 155. (479) 229-3655

Watch the working water-powered grist mill at War Eagle Mill. An 18-foot waterwheel splashes and mill stones grind cornmeal daily from organically grown grain in a pastoral setting that includes the War Eagle River and bridge. (479) 789-5343

Boutiques, shops, the historic square and the restored art deco Rialto Theatre are part of the El Dorado Downtown Historic District. The area contains a significant collection of 1920s and 1930s architecture. 888-921-BOOM

Talimena National Scenic Drive, a National Forest Scenic Byway for years and now a Federal Highway Administration national roadway, winding 54 miles from Mena to Talihina, Okla., offers breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding countryside from peaks of nearly 3,000 feet.

Pick up a brochure at the Chamber of Commerce office in the Old Frisco Depot for a self-guided Van Buren Walking Tour featuring 52 interesting stops. The Van Buren Downtown Historic District has six blocks of art galleries, antique shops, historical attractions and restaurants located along a beautifully restored Victorian Main Street. 800-332-5889.

Pick a lane for a spring drive on a scenic wildflower route: in north Arkansas U.S. Highways 62, 412 and 63 from Eureka Springs east through Powhatan; in eastern Arkansas from Jonesboro south along U.S. 49 to Brinkley; south of Little Rock along U.S. 167 to El Dorado; southwest Arkansas on U.S. 70 from Hot Springs southwest to the junction of U.S. 71, and on U.S. 270 from Hot Springs to Mena; in western Arkansas on U.S. 71 from Interstate 40 north to Fayetteville, along Scenic Byway 7 from Hot Springs to Harrison, and U.S. 70 from Carlisle east to Hazen.

White Rock Mountain Recreation Area near Mulberry offers some of the most scenic views in the state from its bluffs, and it has hiking trails and a lake. (479) 667-2191

Visit the sites related to former President Bill Clinton, such as his boyhood home, high school, favorite hamburger hangout and more. Call the Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau for self-guided brochures. 800-SPA-CITY

In the Ozark Mountains, the 165-mile Ozark Highlands Trail has been rated one of the most scenic trails in the U.S. It’s great for day hiking, weekend adventures or extended backpacking. (479) 968-2354

A scenic 200-mile route atop the Delta’s only “highlands,” Crowley’s Ridge Parkway passes by or near five state parks, a national forest, Civil War sites and more. (870) 910-8080; www.byways.org

The first permanent European settlement on the lower Mississippi River (1686) and Arkansas’s first territorial capital are commemorated by the Arkansas Post National Memorial and Arkansas Post Museum. The memorial is located on Ark. 169 and the museum is on U.S. 165 in Gillett.

Pick up a brochure at the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce for the Arkadelphia Historic Homes Tour, a driving tour of several homes listed on the National Register, some of which date from the 1840s. 1-800-874-4289

The Hillcrest Historic District in Little Rock includes a National Register-listed collection of some of the city’s early residential areas. 1-800-844-4781.

Tour one of the world’s largest fish hatcheries, Joe Hogan Fish Hatchery, on U.S. 70 near Lonoke. (501) 676-6963

A herd of about 450 elk range in the northwest portion of the state along the Buffalo National River. Catch a view of the magnificent beasts and other watchable wildlife in the pastoral setting of Boxley Valley on Ark. 21.

Find flamboyant fall foliage on Ark. 309 from Paris across Mount Magazine to Havana; on the “Pig Trail” from Ark. 23 north of Ozark to its junction with Ark. 16; on Ark. 21 north from Clarksville to the Buffalo River; and on Ark. 5 and 14 from Calico Rock and Allison to Blanchard Springs Caverns.

At the largest free outdoor blues fest in the nation, the Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival, formerly known as the King Biscuit Blues Festival, Delta blues legends and national acts perform in the land where the music was born. The event is held each October in Helena.

There’s ample opportunity to people watch when strolling through the River Market District in downtown Little Rock. Numerous restaurants, shops and bars line the area and benches scattered around provide the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by. Nearby Riverfront Park has a playground for the kids, history banners detailing the capital city’s beginnings, and the original “little rock.” 800-844-4781

Located 10 miles east of Rogers on Ark. 12, Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area is within Hobbs State Management Area, covering 11,750 acres along the southern shore of Beaver Lake. In its initial development, the state park currently offers nature study, trails, and undeveloped access to the 28,000-acre lake. (479) 789-2380

Be dazzled by the masters, one of the country’s finest collections of drawings, and traveling exhibits at the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock. (501) 372-4000

Enjoy ice skating, swimming, the gymnasium and numerous other activities at the Jones Center for Families in Springdale. (479) 756-8090

Climb and hike at Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Little Rock and enjoy the Arkansas Arboretum, a 71-acre site exhibiting examples of native flora that represents Arkansas’s six natural divisions. (501) 868-5806; www.ArkansasStateParks.com

Two of Arkansas’s natural divisions come together at Cane Creek State Park in Star City -- the Mississippi Delta and the hills of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. (870) 628-4714; www.ArkansasStateParks.com

The Aerospace Education Center in Little Rock has displays such as a Wright Flyer and a very rare Sopwith Camel airplane and a full-size replica of Apollo command module. (501) 371-0331

At Walnut Hill, an 11-acre historic site makes up Conway Cemetery State Park, which preserves the final resting place of Arkansas’s first Governor, James Sevier Conway.

Pedestal Rocks (2.2 miles) and Kings Bluff (1.7 miles) trails offer up-close looks at Ozark Mountain geology. Both trails in the unique area feature easy hiking, but border high cliffs with steep drop-offs. There are picnic areas and parking available. Take Ark. 7 to Pelsor, turn right (east) on Ark. 16 and go 6 miles.

Take Altus exit 41 off I-40 to Ark. 186 for a drive over St. Mary’s Mountain and past vineyards, wineries and St. Mary’s historic church.

Lake Catherine State Park is nestled on the shores of 1,940-acre Lake Catherine, one of the five popular diamond lakes in the Hot Springs area. (501) 844-4176

A restored 1901 historically furnished home, the Dr. A.G. Anderson House in Eudora serves as the town’s visitors center and museum. (870) 355-8443.

Enjoy the great outdoors at North Little Rock’s Burns Park. At 1,575 acres, it is one of the largest city parks in the nation and even has a covered bridge.

At Lake Chicot State Park, the Mississippi Delta’s captivating beauty and recreational opportunities come together at Arkansas’s largest natural lake. The 20-mile-long oxbow lake was formed centuries ago when the Mississippi River changed its course. (870) 265-5480

Three state historic sites commemorate the battles of Poison Spring, Marks’ Mills and Jenkins’ Ferry, all part of the Union Army’s Red River Campaign.

Lake Frierson State Park 10 miles north of Jonesboro on Ark. 141 is known for its springtime blaze of dogwoods, picnic sites, playground and self-guided trail. (870) 932-2615

In El Dorado, take a walk through the South Arkansas Arboretum, a 13-acre site that exhibits plants indigenous to Arkansas’s West Gulf Coastal plain region. (870) 862-8131, ext. 170.

View Arkansas’s largest spring, with an hourly flow of nine million gallons of water, at Mammoth Spring State Park on U.S. 63 in Mammoth Spring. (870) 625-7364

On a clear day, you can see three states (Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma) from the 85-foot-high Rich Mountain Fire Tower, located 12 miles west of Mena and open Memorial Day until the second week of November. (479) 394-2912.

A variety of year-round feathered inhabitants and eagles in the winter makes bird watching popular at Millwood State Park in Ashdown. (870) 898-2800

Numerous cities showcase festive spirits with thousands of holiday lights from Thanksgiving weekend through New Year’s Day in the Trail of Holiday Lights tour.

Scenic Ark. 23, a National Scenic Byway connecting from U.S. 71 south of Booneville, northward from Ozark to its junction with Ark. 16, is known as “The Pig Trail” to Razorback football enthusiasts.

Enjoy the hiking trails and recreation areas that are part of the hallmarks of the 7,000-acre Village Creek State Park. (870) 238-9406

Virtually unchanged since the 1920s, the downtown district of Hardy has been transformed into a shopping destination for antiques and crafts. Old Hardy Town boasts 43 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. (870) 625-7364 or (870) 856-3571

Pull up a lawn chair or a blanket, break out the picnic basket and enjoy free cinema. These Arkansas communities give a whole new twist on the outdoor movie with huge screens for showing some of your favorite films. The Lucky 123 Cinema in Eureka Springs, Movies in the Park, Little Rock’s Riverfront Park, the Silver Moon Cinema in Conway and Movies in the Park in Texarkana.

Tour authentic and re-created structures from Arkansas’s Grand Prairie region at the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie in Stuttgart. Learn about the German settlers who gave the town its name and how rice farming came to the state. Exhibits include farm equipment, pioneer life and duck hunting. (870) 673-7001; www.stuttgartarkansas.com

Enjoy environmental education and interpretation at the visitors center of the 65,000-acre Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is the world’s largest green-tree reservoir consisting of the 15,000-acre Felsenthal Pool that increases in size to 36,000 acres during winter flooding. It is located five miles west of Crossett on Ark. 82. (870) 364-3167.

Housed in a vintage downtown Pine Bluff building, The Band Museum is the only museum in the country devoted to band instruments and the history of the band movement in America. The collection includes hundreds of vintage and antique band instruments, dating back to the early 1700s. (870) 534- 4676

Interpretive exhibits tell the story of the development of the River Valley at the Arkansas River Visitors Center. It also offers wildlife exhibits, a slide tape presentation, some hands-on exhibits and a great location for watching barges pass through the locks. Off of Ark. 7 on Lock & Dam Road at Russellville. (501) 968-5008.

Visit Rapps Barren Settlement, a historic building in a village setting that illustrates Mountain Home’s early days. 800-822-3536.

Surrounding the monument to Private Herman Davis, an Arkansas farm boy and WWI hero, is Herman Davis State Park on Ark. 18 in the community of Manila.

Tracing the progression of Dallas County’s early plantation life, which was dominated by the timber industry, the Dallas County Historical Museum in Fordyce also tells the stories of the people who worked the land. 800-352-7202

The predominately wooded footpath of Bell Slough Nature Trail covers 2.25 miles in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Bell Slough Wildlife Management Area south of Conway. The nature trail is great for birding. 877-470-3650.

The newest outdoor craze is geocaching. Geocaching is a treasure hunt where participants use a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) device to hide and seek containers along with others taking part in the activity. Arkansas’s State Parks are a great place to try your geocaching luck. Information and guidelines can be found on ArkansasStateParks.com.

Take a moderate hike to Eden Falls. From Ark. 43 between Boxley and Ponca, turn onto the road to Lost Valley, which is part of the Buffalo National River. Follow the marked trail to the bluff shelter. Eden Falls is located at the far end of the massive overhang.

Spouses’ dinnerThe Airman and Family Readiness Center will be hosting a deployed spouses’ dinner 6 p.m., Aug. 12, Thomas Community Activities Center and will also include family activities and door prizes. Sign up no later than today. For more information and to sign up, contact the Chapel at 987-6014, the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 987-6801 or your First Sergeant to sign up.

CCAF classes offeredClasses offered for Community College of the Air Force degree include: speech, English, humanities, social science and math. The classes start soon for Airmen wanting to finish their CCAF degree. Courses to qualify for commissioning as well as pre-engineering, pre-nursing, pre-medical, pre-dental and pre-teaching plus bachelor’s degree courses are also available. For details, call Arkansas State University-Beebe on-base at 987-8252 or Park University at 987-8894.

Little Rock Spouses’ ClubThe Little Rock Spouses’ Club is on the hunt for spouses of active duty, Guard, Reserve, retiree and DoD employees to attend its “Sign Up Safari” open house 6:30 p.m., Aug. 21, at Hangar 1080.Light hors d’oeuvres and dessert will be served at this free event. The 2008 to 2009 LRSC calendar will be presented. New and returning members may join and sign up to participate in the many available special activities and program committees. There will be games and door prizes. The best safari outfit will be chosen.Visit www.littlerockspouses.com or contact Amanda Cook at 983-0185 by 5 p.m., Aug. 18. The Children’s Playgroup will not be available for this event.

Transcript cut-off datesThe cutoff date to submit your transcript for the fall 2008 CCAF graduation is Aug. 29. All missing college transcripts need to reach CCAF at Maxwell AFB no later than Aug. 29. Contact the Education Center at 987-3417 for assistance.

Voter registration weekThe base’s voting office sponsors a voter registration week Sept. 2-5. Military members and their voting-age family members can register 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations:

Base ExchangeCommissaryFitness CenterBase dining facilityNo matter what state or territory a military member calls home, volunteers will be on hand to assist with the registration process.

Scrapbooking and movieThe Airman and Family Readiness Center will be hosting a scrapbooking and movie event 2 to 3:30 p.m., Aug. 16, Bldg. 668. All spouses and family members of deployed members are invited to attend. There will be light refreshments and a movie with popcorn for the children. The family members will be able to create a shoebox memory album to send to the deployed member. Shannon Shadman will be presenting the techniques of scrapbooking. Bring pictures and special memorabilia to be placed in your book; the materials for the book will be provided. For more information, and to sign up call 987-6801.

Air Force Sergeants’ Association is looking for new membersThe Air Force Sergeants’ Association Auxiliary looking for new members. We are an established international organization, trying to get our local chapter up and running here on Little Rock Air Force Base. All spouses are welcome, regardless of military members rank. Call Stephanie Theisinger for more information at 815-228-9196. It is a non-profit organization banding together to aid, assist and promote all matters pertaining to welfare, social and patriotic work, for the benefit of military families.

School Night for ScoutingSchool Night for Scouting is coming to Arnold Drive and Tolleson Elementary Schools 6:30 p.m., Sept. 4. These open houses will provide the opportunity to find out about local Cub Scouting second to fifth grade boys and Boy Scouting sixth grade to high school senior programs.With paid registrations that night Cubs and Boy Scouts will receive a free handbook. For more information, contact Darrel Jackson at dhjackson6@suddenlink.net for Cub Scouting, and Carol Weld at scceed@hotmail.com for Boy Scouting.

Bowling TournamentThe David D. Terry, Jr. Chapter of the Air Force Association will hold a bowling tournament to raise money for the Timothy W. Kehler scholarship. It is a $1,000 scholarship given to a graduating high school senior in the Central Arkansas area who is going to pursue a degree in any aerospace career field. The scholarship recipient can enter a 4-year, 2-year, or technical school for consideration. First selection is to an Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadet then all others. The tournament is Aug. 15 at the base’s bowling center. Three games will be played and cash prizes will be offered after each game, as set by the number of participants. For more information, call John Heffernan at 658-4521 or Jerry Reichenbach at 457-5276.

Youth hunter education course offered on baseThe 189th Airlift Wing’s Youth Group sponsors a youth-hunter education class during the September unit training assembly weekend. The class is open to all military youth ages 10 and over. The class is Sept. 13 to 14, in the 189th Airlift Wing Operations Group auditorium, Bldg. 118. Class times are Sept. 13, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. — with an hour break for lunch — and Sept. 14, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission instructors will teach the course. The training is structured to acquaint children with the many wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities and recreational shooting sports available to them. Any hunter in the state of Arkansas born after 1968 must carry a valid hunter education card. A card is required of youth applicants for permit hunts. Attendees will receive their hunter education card. Parents are urged to register their children by Aug. 30. For more information or to register, call Staff Sgt. J.D. Crawford at 987-1091.

Sports briefThe First Sergeants Council sponsors a fitness challenge event at 2 p.m., Aug. 15, at the Fitness Center.

Base members can sign up in teams of three with their unit first sergeant and obtain pledges for the number of sit-ups done in a 10-minute time limit. Pledges can be taken in two forms: a per sit-up pledge, 10 cents per sit-up or a one-time amount $10. Participants collecting pledges of $30 or more will receive a T-shirt. In addition, prizes will be awarded to the male, female and team with the highest number of sit-ups.

Proceeds from the event will be used to finance activities the First Sergeants’ Council supports, such as the wing awards program, airman leadership school awards, dormitory events, and other wing-wide morale functions.

New “Six Sigma” Program offered on baseSouthern Illinois University is accepting civilian and military enrollments in the new “Six Sigma” green belt I, Green Belt II and Black Belt courses. Six Sigma is a new curriculum in the corporate world. Little Rock AFB personnel no longer need to search for these courses on-line. SIU offers the three courses in a two weekend-per-month format starting Aug. 23 to 24. Classes are expected to fill up this week. Contact SIU immediately at the Education Center or call 987-8258.

New DoD travel cardDoD government travel cards are switching from Bank of America to Citibank and will be ready for use, starting Nov. 30. Airmen and civilians must verify receipt of their new card as soon as possible after it is reeived. All travel from now until Nov. 29 must be charged to the current Bank of America travel card. For more information, contact a unit government travel card representative. Cardholders can also visit www.defensetravel.dod.mil, www.gsa.gov/smartpay, or e-mail questions to dtmotc@dtmo.pentagon.mil.